Rhode Island Red Thread!

[slordaz]

Hm. Mine are right at 6 weeks old if the feed store guy "guessed" correctly and they were "a couple" of weeks old when I got them. They've been out to explore since just after I got them, and have had the run of the yard for about 2 weeks now as well. They leave the coop and run for the shed. Sometimes they will end up in the flower bed with the 5-6' tall lilies. Occasionally under the rose bush (although I think it's getting to be tight under there) and sometimes hidden in the thick variegated vine. I've never seen them out in the middle of the (thickly treed) yard, even once without my physically picking them up and moving them there, and even then, they don't stay long.

mine were farm store chicks too. what I do is they are more used to me talking and herding first few days to show them perimiters and there are older chicks out free ranging with a rooster and 2 ducks, but these guys have also been in the coop with a 10 week old that chicknapped them to raise them, she quit being motherly to them though the day they walked out of the coop. They don't range as far as the older ones but they do venture out and chase bugs all over the yard, they won't go with the others to the pasture yet.

 

[N2nicole]

They girls enjoyed some sweet corn from last years harvest and fresh tomatoes! later today they will enjoys assortment of berries!

Sounds yummy!!

 

[JessOTR]

After reading around a bit, I'm realizing people are a little touchy about calling a hatchery bird a RIR because it's not a "heritage" RIR. Do I belong in a different thread with my little 4-piece flock?

 

[slordaz]

JessOTR , not at all, this thread is for Rhode Island Reds not hatchery or breeders.

 

[JessOTR]

JessOTR , not at all, this thread is for Rhode Island Reds not hatchery or breeders.

Okay, thanks. I just didn't want to be in the wrong place or have anybody get particular about whether my birds were "real" RIRs or not. I bought them as RIRs, but I know now that they are technically production reds. I'm not exactly clear on what that means.....mine aren't hybrids, but they're not...what? Show quality? Completely pure bloodlines? Pure blood lines chosen specifically for egg production with no attention to other physical traits? Whatever. I don't really care. I just don't want to get my wrist slapped for typing "RIR" cuz it's easier . I'm posting from my computer now. I'm going to go to my phone and upload some pics for some analysis .

 

[JessOTR]

I guess I can't edit from Tapatalk. Here is one of my "girls." I look at a lot of pics of birds the same age. One thread has me sure it's a cockerel. Another has me sure it's a pullet. I'm not 100% sure how old but have guessed at 7 weeks based on when I bought them and when I first saw them in the store.

The redness of her face/comb varies it seems. Mood skin? Heat indicator?

 

[slordaz]

I have noticed that to, the cockrels is bigger, and brighter, hens at that age stay pretty close to the head, you should be able to see a big difference in size by now. when I get back home tomorrow I will post some close ups of mine to show you. pretty sure that one is a pullet

 

[JessOTR]

I have noticed that to, the cockrels is bigger, and brighter, hens at that age stay pretty close to the head, you should be able to see a big difference in size by now. when I get back home tomorrow I will post some close ups of mine to show you. pretty sure that one is a pullet

That's reassuring. This one and one other (who is easy to identify due to a missing toe) have been bigger than the others from day 1, and this one has developed faster by a few days or a week. S/he got feather first, and has been bigger. S/he seems to have a few clucky sounds (maybe along with Scabbers), and the 2 smallest are definitely still cheeping all the time. For all I know, she could have hatched sooner and just been put in the same brooder at the store.

 

[Nic_Domino]

I guess I can't edit from Tapatalk. Here is one of my "girls." I look at a lot of pics of birds the same age. One thread has me sure it's a cockerel. Another has me sure it's a pullet. I'm not 100% sure how old but have guessed at 7 weeks based on when I bought them and when I first saw them in the store.

The redness of her face/comb varies it seems. Mood skin? Heat indicator?

Looks like a pullet here is mine at that age

 

[Chickenchick11]

I guess I can't edit from Tapatalk. Here is one of my "girls." I look at a lot of pics of birds the same age. One thread has me sure it's a cockerel. Another has me sure it's a pullet. I'm not 100% sure how old but have guessed at 7 weeks based on when I bought them and when I first saw them in the store.

The redness of her face/comb varies it seems. Mood skin? Heat indicator?

Awww how cute!!!! My hens faces seem to get redder if they're excited. It could be a heat indicator to, someone more knowledgeable than me might know for sure.